Samoa got off to a flying start with the first try after three minutes as Frederic Vaccari ran out of position trying to intercept a long pass from Antonio Winterstein, leaving space on the right wing for Vidot to beat his man on the outside and touch down.

Milford added the extras but thereafter Samoa seemed to change tactics and tried to smash France out of the game.

Late, high shoulder-charges from Leeson Ah Mau and then Sauaso Sue managed to knock William Barthau briefly out of the game.

Samoa got away with two more similarly brutal late fouls before New Zealand referee Henry Perenara finally reacted, sin-binning Mose Masoe for his hit on Thomas Bosc.

France had earlier blown a try-scoring opportunity when Vaccari and Clint Greenshields impeded each other as they both tried to catch a high ball in the end zone.

But the French made the extra man count as Escare darted over, with Bosc converting.

Samoa went back in front early in the second period when weak French tackling failed to put two players down before Milford managed to avoid the attentions of seven players in close proximity before sniping under the posts.

He also added the conversion.

Samoa's discipline did not improve in the second half but again Perenara let them off after Sue's deliberate trip on Barthau 10 yards out.

France missed a chance to level the scores when Jean-Philippe Baile was held up over the line and had the ball stripped out of his hands.

The home side was made to pay as Jamal Fakir wiped out Tony Gigot as the pair tackled Dodinet, allowing the Samoan to continue and touch down.

France had its chances but a brilliant tap-tackle from Ben Roberts stopped Escare scampering away down the right wing while Sebastian Raguin blew a try-scoring chance when he cut inside despite having an overlap on the left wing.

Samoa cemented the team's superiority five minutes from time with Moors powering over and Milford landing his third conversion.

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